Amos F. Garrison II to Harriet F. Kirby, 11 January 1863
Sante Fe N.M.
January 11th 1863 11o’clock P.M.
Dear Sister
Your book John Brent arrived safe
and sound in time to consider it as a Christmas
present, which I am very much obliged to you for,
and as it gives a pretty good idea of the mode of
living and travelling, with a little too much roman-
ce with an intermingling of horrible Spanish, it
makes it quite interesting.
Without I go into the Army, I think
very likely I will spend my next Christmas
among you. I have serveral offers here of a first
Lieutenancy, but I don’t think I shall accept as
I am an aspirant for a Captaincy in the Subs. Dept.
in Vol Service, or an humbler position in the
Regular Army, but these are all a doubtful case
for if I see anything I like, which I think I
can make money at, as a citizen, I think
I shall accept.
Loring I think missed it by not
coming here in place of going to California as
there is not a dentist in the Territory, and as a
general thing new places like California are
overflowing with professional men, and if he
had not liked it here, it would have been a pleasant
trip through old Mexico, to California. there is a
good deal of work in his line right in this town
to do.
How is old Salem and its inhabitants
getting along as I have not heard from it for
so long I am getting out of the run of it. I don’t
think it is my fault though, and you cannot
blame me for not writing for I invariably answer
every ones letters that write to me. there is at least
a dozen letters due me from Salem now and
some of them been due for several months, but I
settle the matter in a business like way and
satisfactory to myself, that the less I get, the less
I have to write- I expected the old place is getting
along in the even terror of its ways as yet- Waters
has returned some time since. he intended to come
down to Salem from Philada. but pressing business
matters prevented him. his business while in the
states amounted to some $50 or $60,000.00 worth of
goods.
I expect that the Captain will either be
raised to a higher rank in Sups. Dept. shortly or else
be transferred to like position in the Regular Army
which if he gets the last will be quite an honor as
there is not a citizen appointment in our Dept. in
the Regulars and most of the officers are of the
higher branch of the Army.
I expect Nell & Kate are quite big
girls going to school now, as soon as they can
write I want them to write to me, and I will
send them a present for their first letter written by
themselves.
My love to all. how is Henry. write soon
tell John not to write so much and often to me as he
tires me reading his letters. every mail or every year I
believe I get a letter from him. he will be apt to get
himself into trouble when I come home. tell him he
had better write or take pugilistic lessons. I will give
him his choice.
Yours Affectionately
Amos F. Garison, Jr.
Clerk Subs. Dept.
Mrs H.F.Kirby
Salem N.J.
DATABASE CONTENT
| (574) | DL0068.019 | 14 | Letters | 1863-01-11 |
Letter from Captain Amos F. Garrison, United States Volunteers Commissary Department, Santa Fe, New Mexico, January 11, 1863, to his sister Mrs. H. F. Kirby, Salem, New Jersey; Accompanied by Cover
Tags: Business, Mail
People - Records: 2
Places - Records: 2
SOURCES
Amos F. Garrison II to Harriet F. Kirby, 11 January 1863, DL0068.019
